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High Temporal Resolution Monitoring of Multiple Pollutant Responses in Drainage from an Intensively Managed Grassland Catchment Caused by a Summer Storm

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Abstract

This work presents data on a suite of diffuse pollutants, monitored in a stream draining an intensively managed grassland on a 30 min time step during a period of intense rainfall to better understand their sources and pathways. Nitrite (92 μg l−1), particulate phosphorus (107 μg l−1) and soluble phosphorus (74 μg l−1) exceeded environmental limits during base flow. Concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were decreased during the storm event, whereas all other pollutants generally increased and exceeded environmental limits where specified, especially when associated with a small subsidiary hydrograph on the rising limb of the main hydrograph. Total pollutants loads, when using a 60 min sampling frequency, would have led to significant over and under-estimations depending on which 60 min sample set was used. In the worst case, loads of ammonium could have been under-estimated by 35% or over estimated by 25% with errors being associated with loads on the rising limb of the hydrograph and more specifically a small subsidiary hydrograph. This subsidiary hydrograph may have occurred as a result of runoff from the farm hard standings within the catchment. Incidental transfer of pollutants associate with this runoff have masked the overall grassland pollutant response. To better understand these different source areas and pollutant dynamics, there is a need for novel tracing techniques to elucidate their relative contribution and pathways.

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Acknowledgements

This paper arises from research funded by Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (project PE0120). North Wyke Research is grateful for core support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The authors acknowledge the contribution of Liz Dixon and Nicolas Walter for laboratory support, Jim Freer, Tobias Krueger and Phillip Owens for their intellectual contributions and to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biogeochemistry of Soils and Waters Group, North Wyke Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, UK

    S. J. Granger, J. M. B. Hawkins, R. Bol & C. J. A. Macleod

  2. Natural Resources Department, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK

    S. M. White

  3. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxford, OX10 8BB, UK

    P. Naden & G. Old

  4. School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources, The University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QJ, UK

    G. S. Bilotta & R. E. Brazier

  5. Centre for Sustainable Water Management, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

    P. M. Haygarth

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  1. S. J. Granger
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  2. J. M. B. Hawkins
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  3. R. Bol
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  4. S. M. White
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  5. P. Naden
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  6. G. Old
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  7. G. S. Bilotta
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  8. R. E. Brazier
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  9. C. J. A. Macleod
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  10. P. M. Haygarth
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Correspondence to S. J. Granger.

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Granger, S.J., Hawkins, J.M.B., Bol, R. et al. High Temporal Resolution Monitoring of Multiple Pollutant Responses in Drainage from an Intensively Managed Grassland Catchment Caused by a Summer Storm. Water Air Soil Pollut 205, 377–393 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0083-z

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